U.S. patent number 7,474,482 [Application Number 11/407,693] was granted by the patent office on 2009-01-06 for optical data reader with removable lens system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Intermec IP Corp.. Invention is credited to Pierre-Marie Manine.
United States Patent |
7,474,482 |
Manine |
January 6, 2009 |
Optical data reader with removable lens system
Abstract
A selectively mountable optical assembly having an optics body,
at least one optical element, and a mounting base. Coupling
structure allows the optics body to be selectively coupled to the
mounting base such that a flange on the optics body is selectively
aligned with the mounting base when in an engaged position.
Inventors: |
Manine; Pierre-Marie (Pibrac,
FR) |
Assignee: |
Intermec IP Corp. (Everett,
WA)
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Family
ID: |
37448069 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/407,693 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2006 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20060262429 A1 |
Nov 23, 2006 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60672930 |
Apr 19, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
359/828; 359/704;
359/827; 396/531 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K
7/10881 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02B
7/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;359/704,827,828
;396/531 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Martinez; Joseph
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Seed IP Law Group PLLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e)
of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/672,930, filed Apr.
19, 2005.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A selectively mountable optical assembly, comprising: an optics
body comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a
tubular body portion, a longitudinal passage extending along a
longitudinal axis between the first and the second ends and through
the tubular body portion, and at least two lugs proximate to the
second end and extending radially therefrom; at least one optical
element received in the longitudinal passage of the tubular body
portion; a mounting base having an interior surface that forms an
interior passageway with at least two notches, the interior
passageway having a longitudinal axis, the at least two notches
sized and positioned to receive respective ones of the at least two
lugs at a same time, when the longitudinal axes are coaxial and the
optics body is in a first angular position about the longitudinal
axis of the interior passage with respect to mounting base; wherein
mounting base further comprises at least one engagement surface
positioned to securingly engage at least one of the lugs when the
optics body is in a second angular position rotated about the
longitudinal axis of the interior passage with respect to the first
angular position, wherein the optics body farther comprises a
radial flange proximate the second end; and wherein the radial
flange has a plan view profile of a first non-circular geometrical
shape and wherein the mounting base has a plan view profile of a
second non-circular geometrical shape, where the first and the
second non-circular geometrical shapes are the same non-circular
geometric shapes.
2. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 1, wherein
the radial flange is spaced between the first end and the at least
two lugs, along the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal
passage.
3. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 1, wherein
the first and the second non-circular geometrical shapes are
rectangles.
4. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 3, wherein
the rectangles are squares.
5. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 1 wherein
the plan view profiles of the radial flange and the mounting base
are out of registration when the optics body is in the first
angular position with respect to the mounting base and the plan
view profiles of the radial flange and the mounting base are in
registration when the optics body is in the second angular position
with respect to the mounting base.
6. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 1 further
comprising: a circuit board physically coupled to the mounting
base; and at least one optical sensor carried by the circuit board;
wherein the longitudinal passage of the tubular body portion is
aligned with the at least one optical sensor when the optics body
is in the second angular position with respect to the mounting
base.
7. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 1 wherein
there are two lugs and the lugs are diametrically opposed from one
another across the tubular body portion.
8. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 1 wherein
the longitudinal passage of the tubular body portion has a circular
cross-section.
9. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 1, wherein
the at least one optical element is an optical lens.
10. A selectively mountable optical assembly, comprising: an optics
body comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a
tubular body portion, a longitudinal passage extending along a
longitudinal axis between the first and the second ends and through
the tubular body portion, at least two coupling structures
proximate to the second end of the optics body, and a radial flange
extending radially from the optics body, the radial flange having a
plan view profile of a first non-circular geometrical shape having
at least one major axis of symmetry; at least one optical element
received in the longitudinal passage of the tubular body portion;
and a mounting base comprising a first end, a second end opposite
the first end, a longitudinal passage extending along a
longitudinal axis between the first and the second ends, and at
least two coupling structures proximate to the second end, wherein
the mounting base has a plan view profile of a second non-circular
geometrical shape having at least one major axis of symmetry; and
where when the longitudinal axes of the tubular body portion and
the mounting base are coaxial, in a first angular position about
the longitudinal axes, the coupling structure of one of the optics
body or the mounting body are loosely receivable by the coupling
structures of the other of the optics body and the mounting body
and the at least one major axis of symmetry of the flange is not
parallel with a respective one of the at least one major axis of
symmetry of the mounting base, and in a second angular position
about the longitudinal axes, the coupling structure of one of the
optics body or the mounting body is securingly engaged by at least
a portion of the other of the optics body and the mounting body and
the at least one major axis of symmetry of the flange is parallel
with a respective one of the at least one major axis of symmetry of
the mounting base.
11. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 10 wherein
the at least two coupling structures of the mounting base are
notches, and the at least two coupling structures of the optical
body are lugs; and the notches are sized and positioned to receive
respective ones of the lugs at a same time when the optics body is
in the first angular position with respect to mounting base.
12. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 10 wherein
the at least two coupling structures of the optical body are
notches, and the at least two coupling structures of the mounting
base are lugs; and the notches are sized and positioned to receive
respective ones of the lugs at a same time when the optics body is
in the first angular position with respect to mounting base.
13. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 10 wherein
the plan view profiles of the radial flange and the mounting base
are out of registration when the optics body is in the first
angular position with respect to the mounting base and the plan
view profiles of the radial flange and the mounting base are in
registration when the optics body is in the second angular position
with respect to the mounting base.
14. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 10 wherein
the flange of the optics body has a number of edges and the
mounting body has an equal number of edges as the flange.
15. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 10, wherein
each of the edges of flange are coextensive with respective edges
of the mounting body when the optics body is in the second angular
position with respect to the mounting base.
16. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 10 further
comprising: a circuit board physically coupled to the mounting
base; and at least one optical sensor carried by the circuit board;
wherein the longitudinal passage of the tubular body portion is
aligned with the at least one optical sensor when the optics body
is in the second angular position with respect to the mounting
base.
17. The selectively mountable optical assembly of claim 10 wherein
the geometric shape is a rectangle, the tubular body portion has a
circular cross-section and the at least one optical element is an
optical lens.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure is directed to an optoelectronic reader and,
more particularly, to a removable optical element assembly for an
Optoelectronic reader.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optoelectronic readers including moving beam devices (e.g.,
scanners, laser scanners, and the like) and fixed beam devices
(e.g., imagers, charge coupled device imagers, and the like)
typically employ optical lens for focusing a reflected light onto
an optoelectronic sensor. The lenses and other optical components
of the optoelectronic readers are typically permanently affixed or,
in some case, held together by screws, clamps, and the like.
Accordingly, exchanging or removing the optoelectronic reader's
optical components may require specialized equipment and tools, or
complex procedures.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,868 issued to Nishikawa et al. on
Aug. 4, 1981, describes and optical data reader including a
variable focus lens. The variable focus lens of the '868 patent,
however, is sealed with a transparent glass diaphragm and secured
by a flange. Accordingly, specialized equipment and tools are
necessary to remove the variable focus lens of the '868 patent.
One method of providing a quick-change lens mount is described in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,895 issued to Siegfried H. Mohr on Aug. 4,
1981. The '895 patent describes a projection lens with a mounting
structure for facilitating rapid lens changing. The lens assembly
of the '895 patent includes a lug and a complex clamping spring
system to position and secure its lens. The '895 patent fails to
disclose, however, at least a selectively mountable optical
assembly that includes an optics body with a positioning flange
extending radially, and notches sized and positioned to receive
lugs from a mounting base.
The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more of the
shortcomings set forth above.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a selectively
mountable optical assembly including an optics body, at least one
optical element, and a mounting base. The optics body includes a
first end, a second end opposite the first end, a tubular body
portion, and at least two lugs. The at least two lugs may be
located proximate to the second end of the optics body and may
extend radially therefrom. The optics body may also include a
longitudinal passage that extends along a longitudinal axis between
the first and the second ends of the optics body, and through the
tubular body portion. The optics body may further include at least
one optical element that may be received in the longitudinal
passage of the tubular body portion.
The mounting base includes at least two notches and an interior
surface. The interior surface forms an interior passageway that
defines a longitudinal axis. The at least two notches of the
mounting base may be sized and positioned to receive the respective
at least two lugs of the optics body at a same time, when the
longitudinal axes of the longitudinal passage and the interior
passageway are coaxial, and when the optics body is in a first
angular position about the longitudinal axis of the interior
passage with respect to mounting base.
In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a
selectively mountable optical assembly including an optics body, at
least one optical element, and a mounting base. The optics body
includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a
tubular body portion, at least two coupling structures, and a
radial flange. The optics body may also include a longitudinal
passage that extends along a longitudinal axis between the first
and the second ends of the optics body, and through the tubular
body portion. The at least two coupling structures may be located
proximate to the second end of the optics body.
The radial flange may extend radially from the optics body, and may
include a plan view profile of a first non-circular geometrical
shape having at least one major axis of symmetry. The optics body
may further include at least one optical element that may be
received in the longitudinal passage of the tubular body
portion.
The mounting base includes a first end, a second end opposite the
first end, a longitudinal passage extending along a longitudinal
axis between the first and the second ends of the mounting base,
and at least two coupling structures that may be placed proximate
to the second end. The mounting base may further include a plan
view profile of a second non-circular geometrical shape having at
least one major axis of symmetry.
When the longitudinal axes of the tubular body portion and the
mounting base are in a first angular position about the
longitudinal axes, the longitudinal axes of the tubular body
portion and the mounting base are coaxial. Additionally, in the
first angular position, the coupling structure of one of the optics
body or the mounting body are loosely receivable by the coupling
structures of the optics body, and the longitudinal axes of the
mounting body and the at least one major axis of symmetry of the
flange are parallel with a respective one of the at least one major
axis of symmetry of the mounting base.
When the longitudinal axes of the tubular body portion and the
mounting base are in a second angular position about the
longitudinal axes, the coupling structure of one of the optics body
or the mounting body is securingly engaged by at least a portion of
the other of the optics body and the mounting body, and the at
least one major axis of symmetry of the flange is parallel with a
respective one of the at least one major axis of symmetry of the
mounting base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar
elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in
the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the
shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and
some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to
improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the
elements as drawn, are not intended to convey any information
regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have
been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary disclosed
optoelectronic reader employing a selectively mountable optical
assembly.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective pictorial representation of an
exemplary disclosed selectively mountable optical assembly.
FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are pictorial representations of exemplary
disclosed selectively mountable optical assemblies.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional pictorial representation of an
exemplary disclosed selectively mountable optical assembly.
FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of an exemplary embodiment of
the disclosed selectively mountable optical assembly.
FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of an exemplary embodiment of
the disclosed selectively mountable optical assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following description, certain specific details are set
forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various
disclosed embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art, however,
will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or
more of these specific details, or with other methods, components,
materials, etc. In other instances, well known structures
associated with optoelectronic readers such as barcode readers and
methods for reading machine-readable symbols such as barcode
symbols area or matric code symbols and/or stacked code symbols
have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily
obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.
Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification
and claims which follow, the word "comprise" and variations
thereof, such as, "comprises" and "comprising" are to be construed
in an open, inclusive sense, that is as "including, but not limited
to."
Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," or "an
embodiment," or "another embodiment" means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the
appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," or "in an
embodiment," or "another embodiment" in various places throughout
this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment. Further more, the particular features, structures, or
characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or
more embodiments.
It should be noted that, as used in this specification and the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include
plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
Thus, for example, reference to an optical electronic reader
including "a lens" includes a single lens, or two or more lenses.
It should also be noted that the term "or" is generally employed in
its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates
otherwise.
The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not
interpret the scope or meaning of the embodiments.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an optoelectronic reader 10
employing a selectively mountable optical assembly 14. The
optoelectronic reader 10 may include a housing 18, a control
subsystem 20, an optical assembly 14, and optionally an
illumination subsystem 34, and may be used to read a
machine-readable symbol 12. The control subsystem 20 may include
one or more controllers such as microprocessor 26, digital signal
processor (DSP) 24 or application-specific integrated circuit
(ASIC) (not shown). The control subsystem 20 may include one or
more memories, for example, random access memory (RAM) 30, and/or
read-only memory (ROM) 28 coupled to the controllers by one or more
busses 22. The optoelectronic reader 10 may take a handheld form
and power may be supplied from portable power source including a
battery, ultra-capacitor, fuel cell, and the like.
The optoelectronic device 10 may include an optoelectronic sensor
16 operable to transform an image received as light into digital
data, for example electrical signals. Examples of optical sensor 16
include a one- or two-dimensional CCD array, one or more
photodiodes, image sensors, and the like.
The optical assembly 14 may further include one or more optical
elements positioned to receive light from the machine-readable
symbol 12 and to focus an optical beam onto optical sensor 16.
Examples of optical elements include, optical lenses (e.g., axicon
lenses element, double convex lenses, and the like), optical
waveguides (conical refracting surfaces, and the like), and the
like.
The optoelectronic device 10 may include an optional illumination
subsystem 32 including one or more light producing transducers, for
example light emitting diodes (LED) 34 which may be operable in
response to a signal from the microprocessor 26.
FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective of an exemplary selectively
mountable optical assembly 14. The selectively mountable optical
assembly 14 may include an optics body 50, at least one optical
element 60, and a mounting base 51. The optics body 50 may include
a first end 52, a second end 54 opposite the first end 52, a
tubular body portion 58, and at least two coupling structures 68.
The at least two coupling structures 68 may take the form of lugs
68a (as shown in FIG. 5), and may be located proximate to the
second end 54 of the optics body 50 and may extend radially
therefrom.
The optics body 50 may also include a longitudinal passage 59 that
extends along a longitudinal axis 102, between the first end 52 and
the second end 54 of the optics body 50, and through the tubular
body portion 58. The optics body 50 may further include at least
one optical element 60 that may be received in the longitudinal
passage 59 of tubular body portion 58. In an embodiment, the
longitudinal passage 59 of tubular body portion 58 may have a
circular cross-section. In another embodiment, the at least one
optical element 60 may be selected form an optical lens. In another
embodiment, the selectively mountable optical assembly 14 includes
a rectangular geometric shape, the tubular body portion includes a
circular cross-section and the at least one optical element is an
optical lens.
The mounting base 51 may include at least two coupling structures
66 and an interior surface 64. The interior surface 64, of the
mounting base 51, may form an interior passageway 67 that defines a
longitudinal axis 104. In an embodiment, the at least two coupling
structures 66 may take the form of notches 66a (as shown in FIG.
5), and the at least two coupling structures 68 may take the form
of lugs 68a (as shown in FIG. 5). In another embodiment, the at
least two notches 66a of the mounting base 51 may be sized and
positioned to receive the respective at least two lugs 68a of the
optics body 50, at a same time, when the longitudinal axes 102 and
104 are coaxial and the optics body 50 is in a first angular
position (as shown in FIG. 3B) about the longitudinal axis 104 of
the interior passage 67 with respect to mounting base 51. In a
further embodiment, the at least two coupling structures 68 may
take the form of two lugs 68a (as shown in FIG. 5) and the lugs 68a
may be positioned diametrically opposed from one another across the
tubular body portion 58.
In another embodiment, the mounting base 51 my further include at
least one engagement surface (not shown) positioned to securingly
engage at least one of the lugs 68a when the optics body 50 is in a
second angular position (shown in FIG. 3C) rotated about the
longitudinal axis 102, of the interior passage 59, with respect to
the first angular position (shown in FIG. 3B).
The optics body 50 may further include a radial flange 62 proximate
to second end 54. The radial flange 62 may be spaced between first
end 54 and the at least two coupling structures 68, and along the
longitudinal axis 102 of the longitudinal passage 59.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, the radial flange 62 may include a plan
view profile 90 of a first geometrical shape, and the mounting base
51 may include a plan view profile 92 of a second geometrical
shape. The plan view profiles 90 and 92 may be selected, such that
the shape of the plan view profile 90 (the first geometrical shape)
of the radial flange 62, and the shape of the plan view profile 92
(the second geometrical shape) of the mounting base 51 are the
same. In another embodiment, the first and the second geometrical
shapes may be selected from rectangles, and in a further embodiment
from squares. In another embodiment, plan view profiles 90 and 92
may be independently selected, such that plan view profile 90 (the
first geometrical shape) of the radial flange 62, and plan view
profile 92 (the second geometrical shape) of mounting base 51 are
not the same.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3A-3C, and 6, in yet another embodiment, plan
view profiles 90 and 92 may be independently selected, such that
plan view profile 90 (the first geometrical shape) of the radial
flange 62, includes a profile of a first non-circular geometrical
shape and having at least one major axis of symmetry 106; and plan
view profile 92 (the second geometrical shape) of mounting base 51
includes a profile of a first non-circular geometrical shape and
having at least one major axis of symmetry 108.
The term "registration" refers to the correspondence, adjustment of
position, or alignment of shapes, colors in a figure, impressions
in a design, and the like. Plan view profiles 90 and 92, of radial
flange 62 and mounting base 51 respectively, may be defined to be
out of registration when the optics body 50 is in a first angular
position (as shown in FIG. 3B) with respect to the mounting base
51. Plan view profiles 90 an 92, of radial flange 62 and mounting
base 51 respectively, may be defined to be in registration when the
optics body 50 is in the second angular position (as shown in FIG.
3C) with respect to the mounting base 51. Plan view profiles 90 an
92, of radial flange 62 and mounting base 51 respectively, may be
defined to be in registration when the optics body 50 is in the
second angular position (as shown in FIG. 3C) with respect to the
mounting base 51, and the first geometrical shape (of plan view
profile 90) is in alignment with the second geometrical shape (of
plan view profile 92).
The selectively mountable optical assembly 14 may include one or
more circuit boards 80 and 82 physically coupled to the mounting
base 51, a chassis 84 (as shown in FIG. 4), and may further include
at least one optical sensor 16 carried by a circuit board 82. In
another embodiment, when the optics body 50 is in a second angular
position (as shown in FIG. 3C) with respect to the mounting base
51, the longitudinal passage 59 of the tubular body 58 may be
aligned with the at least one optical sensor 16.
Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 6, the radial flange 62 may have
a plan view profile 90 of a first non-circular geometrical shape,
having at least one major axis of symmetry 106; and the mounting
base 51 may have a plan view profile 92 of a second non-circular
geometrical shape, having at least one major axis of symmetry
108.
As shown in FIG. 3B, when optics body 50 is in a first angular
position with respect to mounting base 51, about the longitudinal
axes 102 and 104, longitudinal axes 102 and 104, of tubular body
portion 58 and the mounting base 51 respectively, are coaxial; one
of the at least two coupling structures 68 of optics body 50, or
one of the at least two coupling structures 68 of mounting body 51,
are loosely receivable by the coupling structures of the other of
the optics body 50 and the mounting body 51; and the at least one
major axis of symmetry 106 of the flange 62 is not parallel with a
respective one of the at least one major axis of symmetry 108 of
the mounting base 51.
When the optics body 50 is in a second angular position with
respect to mounting base 51, about the longitudinal axes 102 and
104, the coupling structure of one of the optics body 50 or the
mounting body 51 is securingly engaged by at least a portion of the
other of the optics body 50 and the mounting body 51, and the at
least one major axis of symmetry 102 of the flange 62 is parallel
with a respective one of the at least one major axis of symmetry
108 of the mounting base 51.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 5, in another embodiment, the
at least two coupling structures 66 of the mounting base 51 may
take the form of notches 66a, and the at least two coupling
structures 68 of the optical body 50 may take the form of lugs 68a.
The notches 66a may be sized and positioned to receive respective
ones of the lugs 68a at a same time when the optics body 50 is in
the first angular position with respect to mounting base 51. In
another embodiment the radial flange 62 may be optionally
omitted.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 3A-3C, and 6, in another embodiment, the at
least two coupling structures 68, of the optical body 50, may take
the form of notches 68b, and the at least two coupling structures
66, of the mounting base 51, may take the form of lugs 66b. The
notches 68b may be sized and positioned to receive respective ones
of the lugs 66b at a same time when the optics body 50 is in the
first angular position with respect to mounting base 51. In another
embodiment the radial flange 62 may be optionally omitted.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3B, in another embodiment, the flange 62
of the optics body 50 includes a number of edges, and the mounting
body 51 includes an equal number of edges as the flange 62. In
another embodiment, each of the edges of flange 62 are coextensive
with the respective edges of the mounting body 51 when the optics
body 50 is in the second angular position with respect to the
mounting base 51.
The selectively mountable optical assembly 14 may include one or
more circuit boards 80 and 82 physically coupled to the mounting
base 51; and may further include at least one optical sensor 16
carried by a circuit board 82. In another embodiment, when the
optics body 50 is in a second angular position (as shown in FIG.
3C) with respect to the mounting base 51, the longitudinal passage
59 of the tubular body 58 may be aligned with the at least one
optical sensor 16.
The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide
further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent
application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign
patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications
referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application
Data Sheet, including but not limited to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/672,930, filed Apr. 19, 2005, are incorporated
herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the invention
can be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, circuits, and
concepts of the various patents, applications, and publications to
provide yet further embodiments of the invention.
While the invention has been described through an illustrative
discussion of specific embodiments and non-limiting examples
thereof, one of ordinary skill in the art may, upon reading the
specification and claims, envision other embodiments and variations
which are also within the intended spirit and scope of the
invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention shall only be
construed and defined by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *